Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos have started announcing their overseas players for this edition of the ISL. And, Brazilian players seem to be their hot favourites.
The Dynamos already have Brazil legend Roberto Carlos in their roster as player-manager, along with first season's Gustavo Marmentini. Now, Anderson Sebastiao Cardoso (Chicao) is the latest Brazilian to join the list.
The 34-year-old defender bolsters the backline of the franchisee side that already boasts of Indian names like Naoba Singh, Anwar Ali, Prabir Das and Anas Edathodika.
Having plied his trade in the past with Brazilian giants like Figueirense, Flamengo and Corinthians, Chicao is expected to bring that Samba experience in the defensive line of the Delhi Dynamos.
One of the major moments of his career with Corinthians has been the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup final win over Premier League champions Chelsea in Yokohama. The defender played a major part in restricting the Blues and helping his side earn a clean sheet.
Corinthians won that game 1-0.
Apart from the Club World Cup, his other major honours with the Brazilian outfit include the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B (that helped the team in gaining promotion to Serie A), the Campeonato Paulista (Sao Paulo league), the Copa do Brazil, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, as well as the Copa Libertadores in 2012.
He won the Copa do Brasil with Flamengo once again in 2013 and following the end of that season, Chicao joined Brazilian outfit Bahia (January this year).
Although his trophy cabinet boasts of the major honours that Brazilian club football can offer, Chicao has never been able to earn a cap for the senior Brazil national team.
In his five seasons with Corinthians, the defender has clocked up 123 appearances, and also got on the scoresheet on 12 occasions.
Chicao becomes the fourth foreigner to join Delhi Dynamos this summer. The others are Gustavo, Carlos and Dutch midfielder Hans Mulder.
Some of the others who may join the Dynamos this season are Ghanaian striker Bernard Morrison, Hibernians forward Jorginho and former Sweden star Anders Svensson.
John Riise, former Liverpool star left-back, is believed to have agreed terms with Delhi Dynamos, but his signing has not been officially announced yet.
